Mr Cool Engine Products
New Member
I'm not new to boating but new to this forum. I hope I placed this thread in the right area.
I prefer to trailer. I'll take to boat to a location and leave it there a couple of weeks or more, then go get it and bring it home. Next month or so I'll take to boat to another location and do the same. I like the adventure of going where ever I darn well please. I have a Sundancer 240 now. It's a little small for me. I'm want to get the largest boat that I can reasonably trailer. Currently have this 240 on the back of a Nissan Titan and it trailers just fine. I want to get something that's a little larger where the bed can stay the bed and I can work below deck when I choose or when the weather chooses for me. I'm looking for anything after 2009 and it must have skyhook. So I see that the 31 has the angled bed available. I like that idea. But I also realize this is a quite heavy boat. I really want 2 engines. Where is the breaking point to trailer this style boat. Am I going to realize any significant benefits between a 280 and a 310? Will those extra 3 feet really matter? I realize I'll have to upgrade to a 2500 (Dodge Ram with Cummins is my preference) minimum and that's all part of the plan. What is the max Sundancer size I should consider based on these limitations. I live in Michigan and we're kind of April 1 to Nov 1 max max for rec boating if that impacts your recommendation. I did read other threads. They say a 280 is good, but not a lot of trailering info on the 310.
I'm also quite concerned with the 31 not fitting the launch dock in many locations. I find launching a 24 alone is challenging. Launching a 31 has to be a real treat.
Specifications 260
Length Overall 26' 7'' 8.1 m
Beam 8' 6'' 2.59 m
Dry Weight 6,950 lbs. 3,152 kg
Tested Weight N/A
Draft 41'' 104 cm
Specifications 280
Length Overall 28' 8'' 8.74 m
Beam 8' 10'' 2.69 m
Dry Weight 8,211 lbs. 3,724 kg
Tested Weight 8,757 lbs. 3,972 kg
Draft 41'' 104.14 cm
Specifications 310
Length Overall 31' 0'' 9.45 m
Beam 10' 0'' 3.05 m
Dry Weight 11,630 lbs. 5,275 kg
Tested Weight N/A
Draft 41'' 104 cm
That 10' beams scares the guano out of me. And 11630 dry weight is just about max for a 2500 Dodge.
Here's a 280 https://www.boattrader.com/listing/2015-sea-ray-280-sundancer-103394691/?refSource=standard listing
and here's a 310 video
The 2018 Ram 2500: Towing Capacity. Equipped with a 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel I6 engine, the 2018 Ram 2500 Tradesman 4×2 can tow up to 17,980 pounds—making it the strongest trim in the lineup.
I prefer to trailer. I'll take to boat to a location and leave it there a couple of weeks or more, then go get it and bring it home. Next month or so I'll take to boat to another location and do the same. I like the adventure of going where ever I darn well please. I have a Sundancer 240 now. It's a little small for me. I'm want to get the largest boat that I can reasonably trailer. Currently have this 240 on the back of a Nissan Titan and it trailers just fine. I want to get something that's a little larger where the bed can stay the bed and I can work below deck when I choose or when the weather chooses for me. I'm looking for anything after 2009 and it must have skyhook. So I see that the 31 has the angled bed available. I like that idea. But I also realize this is a quite heavy boat. I really want 2 engines. Where is the breaking point to trailer this style boat. Am I going to realize any significant benefits between a 280 and a 310? Will those extra 3 feet really matter? I realize I'll have to upgrade to a 2500 (Dodge Ram with Cummins is my preference) minimum and that's all part of the plan. What is the max Sundancer size I should consider based on these limitations. I live in Michigan and we're kind of April 1 to Nov 1 max max for rec boating if that impacts your recommendation. I did read other threads. They say a 280 is good, but not a lot of trailering info on the 310.
I'm also quite concerned with the 31 not fitting the launch dock in many locations. I find launching a 24 alone is challenging. Launching a 31 has to be a real treat.
Specifications 260
Length Overall 26' 7'' 8.1 m
Beam 8' 6'' 2.59 m
Dry Weight 6,950 lbs. 3,152 kg
Tested Weight N/A
Draft 41'' 104 cm
Specifications 280
Length Overall 28' 8'' 8.74 m
Beam 8' 10'' 2.69 m
Dry Weight 8,211 lbs. 3,724 kg
Tested Weight 8,757 lbs. 3,972 kg
Draft 41'' 104.14 cm
Specifications 310
Length Overall 31' 0'' 9.45 m
Beam 10' 0'' 3.05 m
Dry Weight 11,630 lbs. 5,275 kg
Tested Weight N/A
Draft 41'' 104 cm
That 10' beams scares the guano out of me. And 11630 dry weight is just about max for a 2500 Dodge.
Here's a 280 https://www.boattrader.com/listing/2015-sea-ray-280-sundancer-103394691/?refSource=standard listing
and here's a 310 video
The 2018 Ram 2500: Towing Capacity. Equipped with a 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel I6 engine, the 2018 Ram 2500 Tradesman 4×2 can tow up to 17,980 pounds—making it the strongest trim in the lineup.
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